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Assessing the Impact of 2020 on the GCC Luxury Goods Market; Celebrate Eid at Louvre Abu Dhabi
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Market News
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Assessing the Impact of 2020 on the GCC Luxury Goods Market
According to Bain & Company Middle, although the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the global luxury goods market, its impact on countries, categories, and brands in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has varied. The emergence of some positive shopping trends and the ongoing recovery o?er hope for a return to relative normalcy in 2021 and into 2022, following a 17% decline in the region’s luxury market in 2020. The GCC luxury goods market dropped to $7.4 billion USD in 2020, with di?erent country dynamics depending on exposure to tourism and repatriation of spending (see Figure 2). Although the decline in tourism hurt the market, GCC nationals (who usually purchase 30% to 40% of their luxury goods outside the region) repatriated spending in their respective countries. Countries with low exposure to tourism, such as Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, did not see such a sharp drop as in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the impact was closer to the global average decline of 23% vs. 2019. Changes in tourism ?ows had a major e?ect on the market in 2020 and the early months of 2021. In the UAE especially, where tourists account for as much as 60% of the luxury market, an undeniably large block of spending power was wiped out rapidly by ongoing Covid-19 travel restrictions. |
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Celebrate Eid at Louvre Abu Dhabi
Louvre Abu Dhabi know that art has the power to bring us together, so join Louvre Abu Dhabi in celebration this Eid as two renowned calligraffiti artists, Diaa Allam and Michael Ang, combine calligraphy, graffiti and urban media art to transform the museum’s walls with colourful Eid greetings and messages. Share your personalised Eid greetings with the artists at the museum and see them transformed into calligraffiti art that you can share with your loved ones, wherever they are. Celebrate Eid with your family and friends at Louvre Abu Dhabi and explore the museum’s collections, spend some time at the Abstraction and Calligraphy exhibition, kayak around the museum, and don’t miss the chance to capture your Eid messages as original calligraffiti art. |
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Company News
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A. Lange & Sohne - the time in five-minute increments
One hundred and eighty years ago, on 12 April 1841, the Dresden Semper Opera House was ceremoniously inaugurated. As befits the occasion, A. Lange & Sohne recalls what was then already a technical marvel: the five-minute clock. It is highly significant for the brand for two reasons. First, its creator Johann Christian Friedrich Gutkaes was the apprentice master and father-in-law of watchmaking pioneer Ferdinand Adolph Lange. Second, it inspired the design of the Lange outsize date. For his five-minute clock, Gutkaes opted for an innovative approach that was unparalleled. It consisted of two fabric-lined drums with printed numerals; they were driven by a wheel train behind a frame with two windows. On the left side, the clock indicated the hours with Roman numerals I to XII. On the right side, the minutes were displayed with Arabic numerals from 5 to 55. |
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Product Launch
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Chopard unveils Mille Miglia Middle East Edition
As partner and official timekeeper of the 1000 Miglia – renowned as the world’s most beautiful car race – Chopard annually presents a new series of high-precision chronographs paying tribute to the indissociable ties between classic cars and mechanical sports watches. The 100 numbered timepieces of the Mille Miglia Middle East Edition brings an Italian Dolce Vita vibe to gentlemen drivers in Middle Eastern countries. They are characterised by attention to every detail and offer vivid proof of Chopard Co-President Karl-Friedrich Scheufele’s attachment to fine craftsmanship, expressed through an elegant sports watch. The 42 millimetre-diameter case of this new model is made of stainless steel. On its side, a crown engraved with a steering wheel and two piston-shaped pushers also recall the powerful inspiration drawn from the automobile world. Short lugs ensure a perfect fit on the wrist, as does the black leather strap with grey stitching, and lined with rubber featuring a 1960 Dunlop racing-tyre motif. |
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Introducing the New Miss Audrey Sweet Art by BOVET
The dial of a timepiece is its face, its window to the world, if you will. Whether you are attracted and intrigued or not is often linked to your impression of the dial first, followed by other details. The new Miss Audrey Sweet Art uses a completely new material and a new process to create a dial that has never been seen before in watchmaking. One made from pure sugar. Representing sweetness and purity, the sugar crystals covering the dial of the Miss Audrey Sweet Art represents a breakthrough in engineering innovation, materials, and miniature painting – all hallmarks of the House of BOVET. Thanks to its artisanal and hand-made nature, each and every dial is in effect a piece unique. A variety of colors are available, including solid hues as well as gradients. |
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Zenith celebrates the 55th anniversary of Cohiba Cigars with a special Chronomaster Open
Zenith has reimagined its emblematic Chronomaster Open in a manner that immediately evokes Cohiba’s unique aesthetic. Taking on the striking design codes of the packaging and paper bands that wrap each of its entirely hand-rolled and exquisitely blended cigars, the dial of the Chronomaster Open Cohiba 55th anniversary edition is done in the distinct saffron-yellow tone and white on black checkered motif. A yellow chronograph seconds hand with a star-shaped counterweight completes the look, while the black alligator leather strap harmoniously accentuates the checkered pattern of the dial. Limited to just 55 pieces, the Chronomaster Open Cohiba 55th anniversary edition is completed with a special display back with the special Cohiba 55 logo printed on the interior side of the sapphire crystal. |
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Harry Winston presents the Rockefeller - Winston Emerald
The House of Harry Winston has always been inspired by the rare beauty of precious gemstones and is proud to honor this legacy with the Rockefeller-Winston Emerald. This magnificent green gemstone displays all of the attributes of a masterpiece from nature. The saturation of color, exceptional degree of clarity, and absence of any enhancement makes this stone among the finest and rarest Colombian emeralds in the world. Inspired by the House’s deep connection to nature and fondness for floral motifs, the setting resembles a blossoming flower with petals rendered in glistening diamonds. Bursting with vibrant color, the design of the Rockefeller-Winston recalls the wondrous gardens our founder greatly admired. In addition to the Rockefeller-Winston, the House of Harry Winston has an impressive array of emerald and floral-inspired jewels to welcome the spring season. |
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Introducing Ressence Type 2N
Ressence has today launched the latest addition to its groundbreaking Type 2 collection, the Type 2N ‘Night Blue’, as part of Watches & Wonders 2021. The Type 2N ‘Night Blue’ becomes the third watch in the Type 2 range, joining the existing ‘Grey’ and ‘Anthracite’ references. Cased in polished grade five titanium, and with subtly updated colours for the dial typography to match the rich shade of blue, the Type 2N is the most refined and elegant iteration of the Type 2 design. Like all Ressence watches, the Type 2N features a lever set into the caseback which is used to manually set the time. With the use of the e-Crown, which is controlled by tapping on the watch’s crystal, you can ‘store’ the time once set. From now on, no matter how long the watch is left without running, a double tap on the crystal will return it to the correct time. |
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Introducing TIME FLIES by L’Epée 1839
TIME FLIES pays tribute to the conquest of the skies and one of the most brilliant inventions ever made: the airplane. TIME FLIES is an 8-day clock in the form of a stylized 1930s plane, offering just enough structure to provide form, and just enough empty space to inspire our imaginations. TIME FLIES is a partnership between L’ECAL and L’Epée 1839, embodying the adventurer’s airplane of our childhood dreams, its minimalist form evocative rather than definitive. Hours and minutes are displayed on large diameter stainless steel disks with black PVD coating on a circular-brushed satin finish and stamped numerals. A quick glance is enough to read the time thanks to the excellent legibility of its display, but the spectacular, skeletonized movement is worthy of deeper contemplation. The movement, built specifically for this TIME FLIES, allows the escapement, which regulates precision, to be displayed in the cockpit. Accuracy is in the pilot’s seat.
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Oris introduces Dat Watt Limited Edition
Based on the Oris Aquis diver’s watch, the Dat Watt Limited Edition is named after a local dialect for the Wadden Sea. The 2,009 pieces mark the year the Wadden Sea was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Its dial displays the lunar cycle and tidal range in the Northern Hemisphere via the Oris-developed Pointer Moon function, created for professional divers. This works using a central white pointer hand that once aligned with the correct day in the 29.5-day lunar cycle, shows the corresponding tidal range via the white outline on the dial. The same hand indicates the waxing and waning of the moon. |
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BALL launches Engineer III Hurricane Hunters
BALL continues its journey of equipping pilots and explorers with innovative technology for any mission. The breakthrough quick-jump setting allows to independently change the local 12-hour hand without affecting the GMT hand or stopping the seconds hand. Powered by BALL's COSC certified GMT module, the local hand can be set by using the traditional crown at 3 o’clock. The local 12-hour hand will turn in one-hour increments without affecting all three additional hands. As a true GMT module, the date also moves in accordance to the local 12-hour hand, always indicating the correct date of the wearer's local time zone. No matter where exploration leads, it is now possible to read the time in two geographic zones with uninterrupted accuracy. |
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Aerowatch offers its new Lady Automatic model
Committed to its impressive heritage, Aerowatch has enriched its 1942 collection – now truly iconic – with its new Lady Automatic ladies’ model. This unique jewelry watch provides stylish women with an inimitably stately look for the wrist. The ingeniously designed dial is an eye-catcher; it is set with applied rings that echo the gentle curvature of the case. The eye of the beholder follows the consecutively narrowing suite of circles to the zenith which is emphasized with a blue sapphire. The incomparably gracious 40-millimeter ladies’ watch is endowed with a selfwinding mechanical movement decorated with Geneva striping. The fascinating, steadily pulsating inner life of the Lady Automatic can be observed through the display back. |
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Maurice de Mauriac launches Chrono Classic Bronze
The display back case uses a blue anti-reflective sapphire crystal and thus allow for an unobstructed view of the pulsating calibre. One has the feeling that the soul of the mechanical automatic movement can both be felt and seen. The watch is alive. Together with the possibility of the custom labelled rotor, each watch becomes a truly personal gift – even to oneself. Non-screw pushers or just simple pushers as we call them are smooth and make for a sleeker appearance. The stop function is activated simply by pressing down on the pusher. The brand use a very individual bronze alloy sourced in Zurich. Bronze is anti-magnetic, resistant to wear, is elastic, slightly more brittle and 10% heavier than stainless steel. Above all, it stands out due to its resistance to seawater. |
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Bravur launches new chronograph La Corsa Rosa
As an homage to the three Grand Tours, the biggest and most prestigious bike races in the world, Bravur has created a chronograph watch series with the same name. The series consists of three models, each model featuring colors, graphics and textures inspired by the corresponding race. First out is “La Corsa Rosa”. The sub dials carries three shades of pink, inspired by the leaders jersey of the Giro d'Italia, la maglia rosa. In contrast is the surrounding dark tarmac colored dial, featuring a tarmac like texture. The case back as well as the rotor of the Swiss made movement are decorated with a deep etched “ nish line” checker race pattern. Sapphire crystals are used both on the front and the back of the watch, meaning you will be able to admire the beautiful movement. The case back crystal has a discrete outlined map of Italy. |
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Garrard launches a bold, new twist on Albemarle Collection
The Windsor motif has been reimagined by playing with size and proportion in graphic compositions. Like abstract art, the unique asymmetry is beautifully balanced yet highly individual. Alongside pendants, rings and earrings, the eight new Albemarle jewels include ear climbers, ear jackets and – a first for Garrard – a diamond ear cuff. The diamonds are set in contrasting angular formations displaying a flash of avant-garde, while the soft edges create an effortless and elegant feel. Designed with adaptability and versatility in mind, the pieces showcase Garrard’s expertise in crafting transformable jewels. The Albemarle collection takes its inspiration from one of the most iconic tiara commissions ever created by Garrard – The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara – one of Her Majesty The Queen’s most recognisable pieces of jewellery. |
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Sarah Noor launches Lucid collection
Lucid is a capsule collection by Sarah Noor Jewellery. Drop one of the collection is in collaboration with creative director Yael Quint. Lucid is a dream-like state, inspired by ‘Lucida’, meaning the brightest star in the constellation. The lucid collection is a fusion of both dream world and luminosity. Each piece is created from glass-like resin, set with incandescent cubic zirconia stones, skillfully placed in a linear design of a fluid hoop silhouette. This collection is an exploration of kaleidoscopic elements from a dream world and the natural composition of light. |
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Exhibitions & Events
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Dubai Watch Week 2021 Reuniting for a moment in time
Founded by Ahmed Seddiqi & Sons, Dubai Watch Week is set to reunite members of the watch industry and audiences in the region with a physical event from 24th to 28th November 2021. The 5th edition will continue to provide an educational platform, position Dubai as a cultural & horological hub for industry peers; whilst engaging with a wider audience in the UAE. The event is poised to take place at The Gate, Dubai International Financial Centre. |
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